US3789794A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for developing electrostatic images
Assignee: Savin Business Machines Corp
•
Filing: 1971-12-27
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Granted: 1974-02-05
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Expires: 1991-12-27
Abstract
Abstract An electrostatic copier includes means to recirculate developer, comprising a diluent carrier and a tacky toner, between a developer supply tank and a developer station. A recirculation system communicates a mechanical mill with the supply tank. Means monitoring developer level in the supply tank and opacity of the developer material control the respective feeds of carrier and toner to the mill.
Inventors
- 👤 I Smith
- 👤 P Hastwell
- 👤 M Vermeulen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 18:50
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/06; G03G15/10; G03G15/104; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/2496; Y10T137/2499; Y10T137/2509
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
90 words
In an electrostatic copier utilizing a liquid developer having a diluent constituent and a tacky toner constituent which is insoluble in said diluent, a container for holding a quantity of said developer, mechanical mill means for subjecting developer passing therethrough to shear stresses sufficiently great to maintain an emulsion of said toner and said diluent, means including a pump for circulating said developer from said container through said emulsifying means and back to said container, a developer unit, and means for supplying developer to said developer unit from said container.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
90 words
In an electrostatic copier utilizing a liquid developer having a diluent constituent and a tacky toner constituent which is insoluble in said diluent, a container for holding a quantity of said developer, mechanical mill means for subjecting developer passing therethrough to shear stresses sufficiently great to maintain an emulsion of said toner and said diluent, means including a pump for circulating said developer from said container through said emulsifying means and back to said container, a developer unit, and means for supplying developer to said developer unit from said container.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 including means for holding a supply of toner, means for monitoring the opacity of said developer liquid and means responsive to said monitoring means for feeding said toner from said supply to said mill means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 including means for holding a supply of said diluent, means for sensing the level of developer in said container and means responsive to said sensing means for feeding diluent from said supply to said mill means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
76 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 including means for holding a supply of said toner, means for holding a supply of said diluent, means for monitoring the opacity of said developer, means for sensing the level of said developer in said container, means responsive to said monitoring means for feeding toner from said toner supply to said mill means, and means responsive to said sensing means for feeding diluent from said diluent supply to said mill means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
98 words
In an electrostatic copier utilizing a liquid developer having a diluent component and a tacky toner component apparatus including a tank for holding a supply of said liquid developer, a developer unit, means including a first pump for circulating developer liquid from said tank through said developer unit and back to said tank, mechanical mill means for subjecting developer passing therethrough to shear stresses sufficiently great to maintain an emulsion of said toner and said diluent, and means including a second pump for circulating developer liquid from said tank through said emulsifying means and back to said tank.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
98 words
In an electrostatic copier utilizing a liquid developer having a diluent component and a tacky toner component apparatus including a tank for holding a supply of said liquid developer, a developer unit, means including a first pump for circulating developer liquid from said tank through said developer unit and back to said tank, mechanical mill means for subjecting developer passing therethrough to shear stresses sufficiently great to maintain an emulsion of said toner and said diluent, and means including a second pump for circulating developer liquid from said tank through said emulsifying means and back to said tank.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus as in claim 5 including means for holding a supply of said toner, means for monitoring the opacity of said developer liquid and means responsive to said monitoring means for feeding toner from said supply to said mill means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as in claim 6 in which said toner holding means comprises means for maintaining said toner under superatmospheric pressure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus as in claim 5 including means for holding a supply of said diluent, means for sensing the level of liquid in said tank and means responsive to said sensing means for feeding diluent from said supply to said mill means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus as in claim 5 in which said mill means comprises a stator member, a rotor, means forming a narrow space between said rotor and said stator, means for directing material fed to said mill means into said space, and means for moving said rotor relative to said stator to apply shear forces to material in said space.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
56 words
Apparatus as in claim 9 in which said space forming means comprises an annular vane on said stator and an annular vane on said rotor, said rotor vane being disposed adjacent said stator vane to form an annular space, said directing means comprising openings in said rotor vane, and means for feeding material to the rotor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
87 words
Apparatus as in claim 5 in which said mill means comprises a rotor and a stator, a plurality of concentric annular vanes on said rotor and on said stator, said stator and rotor vanes cooperating to form a plurality of narrow annular spaces, means for directing material fed to said mill means to said rotor, means forming openings in said vanes for directing material fed to said rotor to said spaces and means for rotating said rotor to apply shear forces to the material in said spaces.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus as in claim 11 in which said stator vane openings are generally radial and in which said rotor vane openings extend from inlet to outlet in a direction slanted opposite to the direction of rotation of the rotor.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-02-04 | 1977-08-06 | 1978-02-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-04 | 1981-08-06 | 1982-02-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-04 | 1985-08-06 | 1986-02-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |